Combined match box and tray



- March 21, 1939 G. w. HAMILTON ET AL 2,151,426 I COMBINED MATCH BOX AND TRAY Filed Dec. 10, 1937 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 PATENT o-FFIcE COMBINED MATCH BOX AND" TRAY Glen Hamilton Kansas City, and Vinton H. Rowlett, St. Louis, Mo.

Application December 10, 1937, Srial'No. 179,144

5 Claims.

invetnion' consists inthe novel construction, an

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectionalview of'the box shown in solid lines in the closed 'portion and dotted lines in the open position when used as a tray.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional viewta'ken on line IV -IV'of Fig. 1.

Referring. to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate similar parts" throughout the several views, the numeral l0 gen :erally designates the box body.' As' shown, the box body is of an elongated, substantially rectangular shape, and is formed of a single'piece of fiberJ-board or similar material, shaped'as shown in Fig.2 and folded and secured together .to'pre sent a receptacle. suitablemfor holding'matches' toothpicks, etc'.,as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 2 showing the blank or stretch-out of the box body, it willbe noted that the sheet of material I2 is slotted and scored to present a bottom l4, side walls It, end walls I8 and 20, also flaps 22, which when positioned as shown in Fig. 1, produce a rectangular box. The flaps 22 are secured to the end Walls l8 and 20 by paste, riveting or cementitious strips to secure the box in proper form. The scoring 24 makes it possible to accurately fold the parts without undue bending of the board.

The end wall 20 has an extension 26 having an outer portion 21 provided with oppositely disposed side wings 28 which are spaced apart from the flaps 22. The extension 26 is scored at 30 to facilitate proper folding; Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4 it will be observed that extension 26 normally closes the end portion of the box, while the Wings extend into the boxand rest against the respective sidewalls.

When so positioned the material, such as matches filling the box, tend to hold the parts together. The outer portions ofwings 28 are provided with outwardly projectingtongues 32' and notches 34; also a portion of each of the wings and the outer portion 2! of extension 26 "are concaved to produce proper accessto the tray when the same-is in use.

The box cover 36 is an elongated, tubular member of rectangular cross-section, of a size suitable for slipping'snugly over the box, with opposite ope'nends substantially registering with the re-' spective ends thereof. This cover is of the type now in general'use on match boxes and is made of a material similar to that used in making the box body. The cover consists of top'38, sides 40 and bottom 42. As shown in'Fig. 4 the material is lapped at one side and secured together by paste or many other suitable manner. The bottom 42 of the cover is provided with an opening 44 which is in longitudinal alignment with a similar opening 46 formed through the bottom !4 ofthe box-body. When the box is closed, as shown in solid lines in Fig."3, the openings 44 and 463 are out of register, however, when the box is arranged to form a tray, as shown in dotted lines in Fig; 3, then the openings will be'in register to receive the head portion 48 of a supporting nail- 50 which is secured in a vertical wall 52. When'the nail is thus positioned in the openings to supportthe box in a-Vertical position, it will be noted that the lower edge of the top 38 of the cover will extend into the notches 34 while the to'ngues'32- will be secured against outward movem'ent bysaid top. The exte'n'sionifi and wings 28g wh'enpositioned asshown in dotted lines, with the coverraised, provide a tray 54 into which the matches roll by gravity. As the matches are taken from the tray others will move downwardly to take their place so that the box may be completely emptied without further manipulation of the box.

To open the box and form the tray, the cover is first moved beyond the edge of extension 26, which is then engaged and moved outwardly from the box and into the path of the cover top 38, which is now moved downwardly until the edge thereof rests in notches 34 with the tongues 32 resting against the inner side of cover top 38. When thus positioned the openings 44 and 46 will be in register so that the box may be placed in position on nail 50. So long as the nail is positioned in said holes, the box and cover are secured against relative movement with the cover top positioned in the notches 34 to hold the tray parts in fixed relation.

It will be noted that when the box is positioned to form a tray that the body portion 26 is in sub- 5 stantially planar relation with the end member 20 to form an extension whereby the tray bottom is extended beyond the body of the box while the outer portion 21 is positioned vertically to present a side wall for the tray. With the parts thus positioned, it is apparent that the operator will have easier access to the articles within the tray because they will be positioned on extension 26.

This device is inexpensive and could be discarded when emptied, however, it might be refilled and used for a long period of time, especially if made from durable material.

Many minor changes might be I made in the construction of the parts without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined match box and tray comprising a box body having a bottom, longitudinal side Walls and end walls, one of said end walls having an angled extension with the inner portion thereof in planar relation with the adjacent end wall and with the outer portion thereof upwardly inao clined thereto and provided with side wings,

"formed to lay against the respective side walls of the box, a tubular cover slidably mounted on said box body whereby the box may be closed;

' and a tongue formed at the outer extremity of each wing adapted to be positioned to contact the inner surface of the top wall of said cover when the parts are positioned to form a tray for the reception of matches from said box.

2. A combined match box and tray comprising 40 a box body having a bottom, side walls and end walls, one of said end walls having an extension substantially the entire width thereof, said extension consisting of an inner portion adapted to be positioned in planar relation with the adjacent end wall and an outer portion adapted ,to be positioned at an angle to the inner extension portion; a wing at each side of the outer extension portions normally spaced apart from said adjacent box end and adapted to rest against the inner faces of the said side walls respectively;

walls and end walls, one of said end walls having an extension including an inner portion in planar relation with said end wall and an outer portion angled upwardly therefrom and provided with side wings formed to respectively lay against the inner surfaces of said sidewalls; a tubular cover slidably mounted on said box body whereby the box may be closed; and a tongue formed at the outer extremity of each wing adapted to be positioned to contact the inside surface of the top of the partially opened cover to, secure the extensionin an, extended position whereby a tray is formed to receive the matches from said box.

4. A combined match box and tray comprising a box body having a bottom having an opening formed therethrough, longitudinal side walls and end walls, one of said end walls having an extension with side wings adjacent its outer portion formed to lay against the respective side walls of the box, having an opening formed through the bottom thereof, the inner portion of said extension being adapted to be positioned in substantially planar relation with the adjacent end Wall while the outer portion of the extension is positioned at an angle vertically thereto, a tubular cover slidably mounted on said box' body whereby the box may be closed; and a tongue formedat the outer extremity of each wing 7 adapted to be positioned to contact the inner surface of the top wall of said cover when the parts are positioned to form a tray for the reception of matches from said box, theopenings in said box bottom and cover being in register, when the tray is formed, to receive the end portion of a nail therethrough to support the box.

5. A combined match box and tray comprising a box .body having a bottom provided with an opening therethrough, and having side walls and end walls, one of said end walls having an extension substantially the entire width thereof and a portion thereof being adapted to be positioned in planar relation therewith while the,

outer portion thereof is extended upwardly at an angle thereto, a wing at each side of the up- 

